Blog: Dermot Cole
•The Fairbanks branch of the Armed Services YMCA is looking for donations to assist a program that provides free formal wear for women attending military events.
They call it an "After 5 Boutique."
Here is the announcement:
This program provides free formal wear to women who are attending all the various formal military functions, such as birthday balls, recognition ceremonies, even the Chamber’s Military Appreciation Banquet.
Many junior enlisted soldiers/airmen cannot afford to purchase the required dresses or gowns for their spouses to attend and often attend these functions alone.
The After 5 Boutique allows the women to select nice dresses and accessories to be properly outfitted for the evening.
There is no charge to the spouse and ASYMCA only asks that they have the dress/gown dry cleaned before returning it back.
With the Stryker brigade back, there are several functions planned for this winter, and the Fairbanks After 5 Boutique is in desperate need of dresses, shoes, purses, and other accessories.
Even though the boutique is located at Fort Wainwright, it is open for all service members and spouses, including Eielson and the National Guard.
It is very easy to do! Just get the dresses dry cleaned, and drop them off or better yet - call the office and they will pick them up. ASYMCA is a 501 (c)(3) non profit, so the donation is tax deductible!
To have someone pick up the dresses, call Melanie Terrill at the Fairbanks office at 353-5962 or if you have access to the post, you can drop them off at 1047 Nysteen Road, #4 on Fort Wainwright.
I think it's a nice idea (and absolutely worth it), but why burden the donor with having to dry clean the article as well? Can't the ASYMCA strike a deal with a local dry cleaner to donate some or all of this project's garments? I think it's a very nice gesture...but forcing a donor to pay for a cleaning AND donate the item is asking a lot.
I read it as the recipient is asked to dry clean the dress before returning it. Sounds fair to me.
Sweet71
"It is very easy to do! Just get the dresses dry cleaned, and drop them off or better yet - call the office and they will pick them up"
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